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The former Arsenal striker cannot believe Liverpool would have allowed the defender to take something without exercising all due caution.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has voiced his disbelief to the Sun at Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho's suspension amidst allegations of doping, claiming that in his time at the Gunners players would never have been able to put themselves at risk of unintentionally getting caught out.

Sakho was cited by UEFA for failing a drugs test after a fat-burning substance on the European body's banned list was found in his bloodstream after the Europa League victory over Manchester United last month.

Though he has not been officially suspended by UEFA, Liverpool announced that they had taken the decision in conjunction with manager Jurgen Klopp and the player himself that he would not be available for selection for the foreseeable future.

Wright has admitted his amazement that the Reds could have allowed this situation to occur, and told the Sun that during his Arsenal days, physiotherapist Gary Lewin would check anything that Gunners players took to ensure they did not risk setting off alarm bells.

Wright said: "Arsenal physio Gary Lewin always wanted us to give him a call before we took anything if we weren't well. Even Lemsip!

"We weren't allowed to use nasal spray. There was stuff in there that could be on the banned list. In this day and age, it's ludicrous that Sakho might have taken something off his own back."

Sakho faces a nervous wait for the results of an investigation to determine whether or not he will face an official suspension from football.

If he is found guilty, it is thought he could face a ban of over six months, which would rule him out of France's Euro 2016 campaign on home soil and the opening months of next season.

Tom Nightingale

After starting to write about football due to lack of any great ability on the pitch, Tom is an NCTJ-qualified sports reporter who has written for Swansea City, the Birmingham Mail, and numerous other publications. An avid Aston Villa fan, he still hasn't got over them not turning up in the 2015 FA Cup final.